By Lacie Blankenship
Last month, the Career Management Center (CMC) virtually hosted its annual Tech Industry Week. Formerly known as the Tech Trek, the week of programming has been modified to accommodate the pandemic, but the intent remains the same – to serve as a strong starting point for students exploring a career in the tech industry.
Prior to the New Year, the CMC hosted its most recent Tech Industry Week with alumni panelists from Microsoft, Google, HelloFresh, Pinterest, and Salesforce. For this event, students attended in a classroom setting, and panelists attended virtually.
Alex Potapov (MBA’23)
“Tech Industry Week is a great opportunity to learn about different functions and roles within the industry,” says Alex Potapov (MBA’23).
“The CMC’s overall goal for Tech Industry Week is for Vanderbilt Business students to walk away with a deeper understanding of roles within the industry,” says Heather Yockey, CMC Associate Director and Manager of Employer Relations and Recruiting. “This includes the various industries that tech touches, various nuances of technology roles, and how industry leaders value and cater to a different market using a unique combination of scale, speed, and tech skills.”
Amanda Kelley (MBA’23)
Through Q&A sessions and presentations, panelists conveyed to students how their roles interact with the business. To ensure the event was immersive, an alumna sent packaging and had students interact with the HelloFresh meal products. Panelists discussed their personal career journeys getting involved with the industry, spoke to different opportunities and positions in tech with business insight, and gave advice on how to network.
“I walked away from Tech Industry Week with new ideas of what a career in tech could look like and an alumni network willing to help me pursue my goals,” says Amanda Kelley (MBA ‘23).
Mayra Escobar (MBA’23) noted that she got “insight into challenges and problems big tech companies need to solve and got valuable advice on how to get the best of [her] time at Vanderbilt Business and leverage its network for future career development.”
Mayra Escobar (MBA’23)
Escobar noted that the week featured conversations about “insider perspectives for working in the industry, what companies are looking for in potential employees, and the areas in which MBA graduates can work and develop their careers.”
“Tech Industry Week is also about the students building their tech network,” says Yockey. “During this event, alumni provide insight and guidance on how to navigate an at times not-so-straightforward industry.”
Yockey notes that a distinguishing characteristic of Vanderbilt Business is its active alumni and praises them for the success of Tech Industry Week.
“I continue to be impressed to see how many Vanderbilt Business alumni want to participate and share resources with our current students,” she says. “Being successful business professionals with limited time, it’s heartening to see them prioritize connecting with students and advocating for them as they enter the tech recruiting landscape.”
